Disc valve for applicator

ABSTRACT

A fluid applicator comprising a retainer ring adapted to be seated in a container and having a peripheral flange which not only serves to hold a cover in place, but also maintains a disc valve assembly in a bowed convex position. The disc valve assembly engages the cover to normally hold the cover in a domelike shape and has a depending stem which extends through an opening in the retainer ring and a valve head below the retainer ring normally urged into engagement with the retainer ring for controlling fluid flow.

United States Patent 1 1 9 Schwartzman 51 Apr. 4, 1972 54] DISC VALVEFOR APPLHCATOR FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Inventor: GilbertSchwarizman, Wilmot i 507,738 9/1930 Germany ..401/206 Scarsdale, NY.10583 22 Filed; Man 1970 Primary Examiner-Harland S. Skogquist l 1 ppNo: 23,910 Attorney KennethS Go dfarb [57] ABSTRACT [52] U.S.Cl..40l/206 [51] InLC; 11/06 A fluid applicator comprising a retainer ringadapted to be 58 Field of Search ..401/206, 273 seated in a containerand having a Peripheral flange which not only serves to hold a cover inplace, but also maintains a disc [56] References Cited valve assembly ina bowed convex position. The disc valve assembly engages the cover tonormally hold the cover in a UNITED STATES PATENTS dome-like shape andhas a depending stem which extends 893,635 7/1908 Marquart ..40l/273through an opening in the retainer ring and a valve head below 1,620,8012 Clark l/2 X the retainer ring normally urged into engagement with the3,203,026 8/1965 r Zm n--..- 401/206 retainer ring for controlling fluidflow. 3,356,441 12/1967 Schwartzman. ..401/206 3,468,611 9/1969 Ward..40l/206 X 3Claims,4ll)rawing Figures Q v g z??? DISC VALVE FORAPPLICATOR This invention relates to a fluid applicator especiallyadapted for use in applying cosmetics, medications, or pigments on theperson or clothing of the user.

In the past, various types of valve arrangements for fluid applicatorshave been devised. In U.S. Pat. No. 3,203,026 to Gilbert Schwartzman,issued Aug. 31, 1965, for Fluid Applicator," there is disclosed aretainer ring which has a cover attached thereto and which is providedwith a valve assembly employing helical coil springs. This valveassembly is highly effective and useful for most fluids except thosetypes of fluids which may have a tendency to cake, gum, or harden.

The concept of this invention features the use of a novel valve assemblyof a type wherein the use thereof will break up caked matter, which issimple in construction and capable of effective use in metering fluidand which may be used with the retainer ring of conventionalconstruction.

The construction of this invention features the use of a discshapedvalve assembly employing a disc which is placed under stress into aconcave shape and so arranged so as to bow the disc into an outwardlyconvex shape which not only serves to i draw the valve head against thevalve stem, but bows the cover into a dome-like shape for effectiveapplication of fluid.

Still further objects and features of this invention reside in theprovision of a fluid applicator employing a disc valve assembly that issimple in construction, capable of being assembled in a rapid andconvenient manner and which is inexpensive to manufacture therebypermitting wide use and distribution.

These, together with the various ancillary objects and features of thisinvention, which will become apparent as the following descriptionproceeds, are attained by this applicator provided with a disc valveassembly, preferred embodiments of which are illustrated in theaccompanying drawing, by way of example only, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view of an applicator constructed inaccordance with the concepts of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the plane of line 2-2in FIG. 1, with a part of the valve assembly being broken away to showother parts in detail;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but showing the applicator in use;and,

FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view showing a modified form of the valveassembly.

With continuing reference to the'accompanying drawing, wherein likereference numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views,reference numeral is used to generally designate a fluid applicatorconstructed in accordance with the concepts of the present invention,which is adapted to be inserted into the neck of any type of suitablecontainer 12. The applicator 10 includes a retainer ring 14 having aprojecting portion 16 which is designed to fit in the neck of thecontainer and includes a flange 18 integral with the ring 14 andprovided with a swaged lip 20 for retaining a cover 22 between theflange 18 and a circular flange 24. The cover 22 is constructed in twolayers, the upper layer 26 being formed of a nylon knitted brushedfabric. Laminated and bonded to the nylon knitted brushed fabric layer26 is a lower layer 28 ofpolyurethane foam.

The flange 24 surrounds an opening 30 formed in the ring 14. A discvalve assembly 32 is provided for controlling fluid flow through theopening 30 and includes a disc 34 provided with a plurality of annularlyspaced bores 36 therethrough. The disc has a larger diameter than theinner diameter of the flange 24 so that when the peripheral edge 38 ofthe disc engages the flange, while the disc is also in engagement withthe ring 14, it is under stress and is bowed outwardly in a convexmanner as shown in F IG. 1.

Integral with and depending from the disc 34 is a valve stem 40 adaptedto extend through the opening 30. Integral with the valve stem is avalve head 42 having a lower downwardly divergin truncated conicalportion 44 and a lower conical portion 6. The valve head may be snappedinto place through the opening 30 or may be formed by a heated toolafter the valve stem has been pushed through the opening 30 as may bedesired.

In use, the container 12 is overturned and upon pressing the applicatordownwardly on the surface to be covered, the cover 22 will push againstthe valve assembly 32 so as to permit fluid flow in the direction ofarrows 50 through the opening 30 and thence through bores 36 through thecover 22 onto the surface to be coated. Release of the cover from thesurface will immediately cause the disc valve to snap the valve headportion 40 against the retainer ring 14 closing the opening andpreventing further fluid flow out of the container 12.

In FIG. 4 there is shown a modified form of the invention utilized forreducing the amount of matter used in construction of the valve assembly32, while also facilitating the insertion of the valve head through theretainer ring. Herein the retainer ring 114 is provided with an openingtherethrough and the valve stem as well as the valve head 142 areprovided with a recess 158 therethrough. Because of the recess, thevalve head 142 may be more easily force fitted through the retainer ring1 14.

A latitude of modification, substitution and change is intended in theforegoing disclosure and in some instances, some features of theinvention will be employed without a corresponding use of otherfeatures.

I claim:

1. A fluid applicator comprising a retainer ring having a projectingportion, a cover secured to said ring, said ring having a openingtherethrough, a circular flange surrounding said opening and extendingtoward said cover, a valve assembly including a disc disposed betweensaid cover and said ring, said disc having a plurality of spaced borestherein, the diameter of said disc when in an unstressed condition beingnormally greater than the inside diameter of said flange, the peripheraledge of said disc engaging said flange with said disc engaging said ringand being stressed into an upwardly convex position having a convex faceengaging said cover to bow said cover upwardly, said disc having atleast one bore therethrough, a valve stem depending from and integralwith said disc and extending through said opening, and a valve head onsaid stem and integral therewith, said valve head being below said ringand being engageable with said ring to close said opening for limitingfluid flow.

2. A fluid applicator according to claim 1, wherein said valve headincludes a truncated conical portion flaring outwardly and downwardly,and a lower downwardly converging conical portion.

3. A fluid applicator according to claim 2, wherein said head and saidstern have a recess therein.

1. A fluid applicator comprising a retainer ring having a projectingportion, a cover secured to said ring, said ring having a openingtherethrough, a circular flange surrounding said opening and extendingtoward said cover, a valve assembly including a disc disposed betweensaid cover and said ring, said disc having a plurality of spaced borestherein, the diameter of said disc when in an unstressed condition beingnormally greater than the inside diameter of said flange, the peripheraledge of said disc engaging said flange with said disc engaging said ringand being stressed into an upwardly convex position having a convex faceengaging said cover to bow said cover upwardly, said disc having atleast one bore therethrough, a valve stem depending from and integralwith said disc and extending through said opening, and a valve head onsaid stem and integral therewith, said valve head being below said ringand being engageable with said ring to close said opening for limitingfluid flow.
 2. A fluid applicator according to claim 1, wherein saidvalve head includes a truncated conical portion flaring outwardly anddownwardly, and a lower downwardly converging conical portion.
 3. Afluid applicator according to claim 2, wherein said head and said stemhave a recess therein.